Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate,[1] shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the president of the United States;[2] if he approve, he shall sign it; but if not, he shall return it, with his objections, to that house in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the objections at large on their journal, and proceed to reconsider it.  If, after such reconsideration, two-thirds of that house shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be considered, and, if approved by two-thirds of that house, it shall become a law.[3] But in all such cases the votes of both houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the journal of each house, respectively.[4] If any bill shall not he returned by the president within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall he a law, in like manner as if he had signed it,[5] unless the congress, by their adjournment, prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a law.[6] [1] Or the Senate and House of Representatives, since any bills except those for raising revenue may originate in either house.

[2] The two great purposes of giving the president a negative upon legislative acts, are to protect the proper authority of the executive from the encroachments of the congress, and to interpose a stay on hasty legislation.

[3] The veto of the Roman Tribune was final, as is that of almost every European sovereign today. But no British king or queen has vetoed an act of Parliament in the last hundred and eighty years. In Norway, if a bill, vetoed by the king, passes three successive Storthings, it becomes a law.

[4] To secure a permanent record for future reference.  This helps to render members careful how they vote.

[5] This gives due time for consideration, but prevents the president’s killing a bill by ignoring or neglecting it.

[6] Thus congress (which has the very human failing of “putting off” or postponing) cannot break down the veto power of the president, by pouring an avalanche of bills upon him within the last few days of the session.

But the president can easily kill any bill which he does not like, if it is presented within ten days of the adjournment of congress, simply by keeping it.  This is called “pocketing” a bill, or “the pocket veto.”

Clause 3.—­Joint Resolutions.

Every order, resolution, or vote to which the concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of adjournment), shall be presented to the president of the United States; and before the same shall take effect, shall be approved by him, or, being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two-thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the rules and limitations prescribed in the case of a bill.